1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
Pelajia, Philomena, Marie-Adele, Annie, Emily, Veronique, and Zhaboonigan are five close knit women who all live on Wasaychigan Indian Hill Reservation in Ontario. The part of their lives that this play shows occurs during late August in 1986. These women live in conditions most of us are not used to. It shows the normalcy of poverty within their lives and other facets that come with it: domestic abuse, poverty, etc. There is also Nanabush, a god-like character that portrays itself as several creatures throughout the play such as a seagull, and it represents indian culture and their beliefs. This play shows women struggling together as they attempt to live better lives on the reservation while staying in touch with their culture.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is also the catalyst that sets off most of the dramatic action in the, and it allows to learn about the characters of this play. That moment is when the Rez Sisters confirm that the ‘Biggest Bingo in the World’ is real and decide to go. They all talk about what they want and there hopes and dreams: from simple things like having a nice toilet to singing for crowds of people. This shows the reality in which they all live, and it causes them to tear into each other, revealing to the audience the make-up and backstory of each character in a unique way.
3. What is the unique factor?
This is the day that the Rez Sisters collectively decide to travel to Toronto and play in the ‘Biggest Bingo in the World.’ This sets up the rest of the play and many expositions for the characters.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Why do the women want to win the jackpot and what connects them?
This question ultimately leads us through the characters minds. When the author delves into each of the characters dreams for the jackpot is when we start to see the backstory for each character. This also sets them off on their journey as we watch these women, in an oxymoronic way, maliciously bond.
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
The first kind of exposition is information known to all characters that helps set up the initial play. Something in this nature would be the setting of the play. All the women know where they are, the reservation, and it is also clearly made known to the audience early.
The second exposition is information that only one character knows, and others, including the audience, do not know. This is commonly given in the form of a messenger speech and can be seen when Zhaboonigan tells Nanabush her story about being sexually abused by the two white boys. This was formally not known by any of the characters or the audience.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment in the play is when all of the women finally get to the Bingo Hall in Toronto, being to play, and the ‘riot’ ensues over the game taking forever. This scene of chaos is juxtaposed by Marie-Adele dancing calmly as the Bingo master transforms into Nanabush and takes her to the spirit world. This shows the spirituality and culture that all the women are scared to lose touch with is still with them as they fight to remain culturally in touch.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
-Being trapped in a systemic cycle of poverty and low living standards -Female companionship -The Indian minority struggle -The loss of culture due to systemic, large-scale assimilation
8. What does the chief character want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of her getting what she wants?
This is an ensemble play, but the chief character that the audience mostly sees the play through is Pelajia. She wants better for her town in the reservation: infrastructure, culturally, and all. The Chief stands in her way by not agreeing to make infrastructure improvements to the neighborhood. When she believe she might have a way to fix it (Bingo), she is too poor to get there and must work hard and save money with the other women. At the end of the play she doesn’t win and may not have accomplished her task to improve the roads, but she cultivated a bond between the women in the town as they all strive for better.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
-The Reservation vs.the Biggest Bingo in the World -These two things works as counter-images to each other. The Reservation represents the entrapment of the women and the systemic poverty and issues they face while the bingo, and its jackpot, represent the want for more and the desire to have better lives.
-Nanabush Nanabush as a ‘character’ is a symbol that shows the bond to the old culture and spirits alive within the women.
-Pelija’s job and hammer This represents the role of the women in the reservation. They are tasked with almost everything and the reservations upkeep while most of the men are gone.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
This play focuses on sisterhood within these women. They may not like each other a lot of the time, but they are all connected by the same trials and tribulations that come with life as an Indian women, especially on a reservation. Some may be related, but these women seem like a real, modern embodiment of siblings. They fight, and at times hate each other, but they understand each other and attempt to hold the other women up when they most need it.
Pelajia, Philomena, Marie-Adele, Annie, Emily, Veronique, and Zhaboonigan are five close knit women who all live on Wasaychigan Indian Hill Reservation in Ontario. The part of their lives that this play shows occurs during late August in 1986. These women live in conditions most of us are not used to. It shows the normalcy of poverty within their lives and other facets that come with it: domestic abuse, poverty, etc. There is also Nanabush, a god-like character that portrays itself as several creatures throughout the play such as a seagull, and it represents indian culture and their beliefs. This play shows women struggling together as they attempt to live better lives on the reservation while staying in touch with their culture.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is also the catalyst that sets off most of the dramatic action in the, and it allows to learn about the characters of this play. That moment is when the Rez Sisters confirm that the ‘Biggest Bingo in the World’ is real and decide to go. They all talk about what they want and there hopes and dreams: from simple things like having a nice toilet to singing for crowds of people. This shows the reality in which they all live, and it causes them to tear into each other, revealing to the audience the make-up and backstory of each character in a unique way.
3. What is the unique factor?
This is the day that the Rez Sisters collectively decide to travel to Toronto and play in the ‘Biggest Bingo in the World.’ This sets up the rest of the play and many expositions for the characters.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Why do the women want to win the jackpot and what connects them?
This question ultimately leads us through the characters minds. When the author delves into each of the characters dreams for the jackpot is when we start to see the backstory for each character. This also sets them off on their journey as we watch these women, in an oxymoronic way, maliciously bond.
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
The first kind of exposition is information known to all characters that helps set up the initial play. Something in this nature would be the setting of the play. All the women know where they are, the reservation, and it is also clearly made known to the audience early.
The second exposition is information that only one character knows, and others, including the audience, do not know. This is commonly given in the form of a messenger speech and can be seen when Zhaboonigan tells Nanabush her story about being sexually abused by the two white boys. This was formally not known by any of the characters or the audience.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment in the play is when all of the women finally get to the Bingo Hall in Toronto, being to play, and the ‘riot’ ensues over the game taking forever. This scene of chaos is juxtaposed by Marie-Adele dancing calmly as the Bingo master transforms into Nanabush and takes her to the spirit world. This shows the spirituality and culture that all the women are scared to lose touch with is still with them as they fight to remain culturally in touch.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
-Being trapped in a systemic cycle of poverty and low living standards
-Female companionship
-The Indian minority struggle
-The loss of culture due to systemic, large-scale assimilation
8. What does the chief character want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of her getting what she wants?
This is an ensemble play, but the chief character that the audience mostly sees the play through is Pelajia. She wants better for her town in the reservation: infrastructure, culturally, and all. The Chief stands in her way by not agreeing to make infrastructure improvements to the neighborhood. When she believe she might have a way to fix it (Bingo), she is too poor to get there and must work hard and save money with the other women. At the end of the play she doesn’t win and may not have accomplished her task to improve the roads, but she cultivated a bond between the women in the town as they all strive for better.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
-The Reservation vs.the Biggest Bingo in the World
-These two things works as counter-images to each other. The Reservation represents the entrapment of the women and the systemic poverty and issues they face while the bingo, and its jackpot, represent the want for more and the desire to have better lives.
-Nanabush
Nanabush as a ‘character’ is a symbol that shows the bond to the old culture and spirits alive within the women.
-Pelija’s job and hammer
This represents the role of the women in the reservation. They are tasked with almost everything and the reservations upkeep while most of the men are gone.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
This play focuses on sisterhood within these women. They may not like each other a lot of the time, but they are all connected by the same trials and tribulations that come with life as an Indian women, especially on a reservation. Some may be related, but these women seem like a real, modern embodiment of siblings. They fight, and at times hate each other, but they understand each other and attempt to hold the other women up when they most need it.